The establishment can’t stop marijuana’s momentum in America. Not only have states realized the fortuitous tax revenue it reaps, but scientists have begun to discover the drug’s many medicinal benefits; and not just for humans, either.

One example is a new study in the works by Colorado State University. It’s investigating how cannabis could help treat our furry friends’ most troubling health afflictions. And it may just herald a new epoch of veterinary medicine while potentially changing the perception of cannabis nationwide.

Sad as it is, epilepsy isn’t uncommon among dogs. Neither is osteoarthritis, a condition that causes debilitating pain in an animal’s joints, making an energetic young dog act like a stiff and old one. Human beings suffer from these same conditions, too. Rumors of both claim the afflictions can be treated with a little bit of MMJ magic.

But before CSU could go about dosing dogs with medicinal dank, the university had to prove that pot could be safe for pups. So, they partnered up with Applied Basic Science Corporation (ABSC), a Fort Collins company that produces Colorado Hemp Oil. The results were so encouraging, that in April, Dr. Stephanie McGrath, a veterinary neurologist and CSU professor, presented them at the Institute of Cannabis Research Conference.

“Veterinarians and pet owners are looking for a drug with minimal side effects that can help a variety of canine ailments,” says Dr. McGrath. “If CBD can help, we need to find out. We need the science to show whether this drug can work and CSU is allowing this long overdue research to happen.”

And people were into it. So much so, the team received a go-ahead to initiate phase II: clinical trials.

If successful, the research might take CBD out of the realm of hippy-dippy wishy-washy holistic pet remedies and into the lucrative realm of legitimate and scientifically backed veterinary medicine. Because while pet owners currently use CBD as a treatment, CSU’s study looks to provide the concrete science and data needed to back up the pervasive anecdotal evidence.

This could be great news for dogs. Many of the currently accepted veterinary medications used to treat things like osteoarthritis and epilepsy are depressingly ineffective. About a third of the animals on conventional anti-seizure regiments still suffer from uncontrollable seizures and experience significant side effects from the pharmaceuticals.

Similarly, veterinary pain medicines often include side effects like vomiting, loss of appetite and even doggy depression. Cannabis products may very well circumvent all of that and provide pets with a significantly higher quality of life.

To clarify: THC is toxic for dogs. That’s an important distinction — THC is the cannabiniod responsible for the psychoactive effects of marijuana (the stuff that gets you high), and it is not being tested in any of CSU’s clinical trials. THC is what makes DIY doggie dosing such a dangerous business.

Conversely, CBD, another cannabinoid, has no psychoactive side effects, yet still offers health benefits. That’s why CSU made it a point to partner up with ABSC, who has developed the first scientifically backed, pet-friendly Colorado Hemp Oil. It’s a CBD product that, after extraction, contains less than 0.3 percent THC.

“We didn’t want to come to the market with anything that wasn’t trusted and safe,” said David Moche, founder of ABSC. “We know our product is organic, it’s American grown, it’s locally sourced, it only has a few simple ingredients, and we know, we’ve tested it.”

Colorado State University’s CBD study is just one of hundreds related to cannabis going on in America right now to prove once and for all the plant has medicinal benefits — contrary to what its schedule I federal distinction maintains.

It’s the least we can do for best friends that provide countless hours of YouTube entertainment.